Teddy Hawkins officially to ISU, with an odd exception

[rlh04d]

I don't know much about this kid. He must be a stud that everyone is so worked up?

He's a damn good basketball player.

It's the other stuff that caused other programs to back off of him. I don't know if he had any options other than Illinois State.

[mvcfan]

Here is the rule according to the pantagraph

The MVC intra-conference transfer states a student-athlete who signs a national letter of intent with one Valley school can’t play for another league member for two years after first attending collegiate classes unless given a waiver by the initial school for all or part of the two-year period.

I guess technically he was given a waiver for part of the two-year period -- the part where they aren't playing WSU

This bothers me on the Valley end, but I think it's a hilarious solution by WSU. We've essentially helped out Illinois State in their nonconference, which will be benefit WSU (RPI and conference perception), but also kept him from being used against us. Some WSU fans had a problem with refusing the waiver strictly on Illinois State being better is good for our RPI. We got it both ways.

This is the best way Marshall could have possibly played this. I just think it's ridiculous the Valley let him get away with it.

Do you know that Marshall played it that way? Someone on the Redbird board thinks that ISUR proposed this to the Valley as a way to move forward. I think that you are taking a lot for granted. Marshall doesn't have any reason to piss off the other teams in the Valley.

[shoxrox]

Here is the rule according to the pantagraph

The MVC intra-conference transfer states a student-athlete who signs a national letter of intent with one Valley school can’t play for another league member for two years after first attending collegiate classes unless given a waiver by the initial school for all or part of the two-year period.

So WSU/Marshall went out of their way to let them play sooner? So I guess Marshall isn't as big of an asshole so many think?

No rules were broken. WSU had the option to waive part of the sit-out period. It's unusual that it played out this way, but it's in the Valley rule book.

I think it's funny that so many UNI fans have chimed in on this. Coincidence?

[Aargh]

This sounds like a negotiated deal with the league office handling everything. I don't think WSU or IlSU relly had anything to do with this, other than agreeing to something that came down from the league office.

Two things about Hawkins - make it 3

Top-150 guy in HS, but never finished his year of prep school, and now can't practice for a year. Might be a little rusty next year.

His academic progress suggests:
Imagine a picture of a box of rocks here, because this message board can't determine the size of an image less than 2" x 3"

He may be flakier than:
Imagine a picture of a box of Corn Flakes for the same reason.

[Aargh]

After further review, my original opinion has been overturned.

This is from the Redbird board:

What Hawkins can and can't do, per the Pantagraph and Muller:

Quote:
...Hawkins was granted partial relief from the Missouri Valley Conference’s intra-conference transfer rule and won’t be able to play in ISU’s two regular-season games against Wichita State in the 2014-15 season.

...

The MVC intra-conference transfer states a student-athlete who signs a national letter of intent with one Valley school can’t play for another league member for two years after first attending collegiate classes unless given a waiver by the initial school for all or part of the two-year period.

So, according to Muller, just signing an LOI triggers the two-year rule, which can only be waived by the initial school for all or part of the two-year period.

Marshall and the WSU athletic department gave Muller, Hawkins, and IlSU the waiver they requested with the exception of two games. With the tension between the two coaching staffs, I think Marshall showed a lot of character and class by granting the waiver.

[unipanther99]

He may have shown class by granting the waiver, but it seems he (or someone on WSU's behalf) pushed for the "he can't play against us" provision. If it was a non-conference situation where the schools play each other once, I could maybe understand that. But for a conference foe? It's unheard of.

Either grant the waiver and move on, or don't grant it.

[Cdizzle]

He may have shown class by granting the waiver, but it seems he (or someone on WSU's behalf) pushed for the "he can't play against us" provision. If it was a non-conference situation where the schools play each other once, I could maybe understand that. But for a conference foe? It's unheard of.

Either grant the waiver and move on, or don't grant it.

First of all, the rule is only in effect because it is a intra-league situation. Secondly, it isn't unheard of, just because you've never heard of it. Third, they did grant the waiver. And they have moved on. You haven't. It's called a "Qualified" Release Agreement for a reason. It makes total sense that WSU should not have to play against a kid that signed a LOI with them for the 2-year period.

ILSU has chosen to try to have Hawkins play during his second year of enrollment, understanding that he cannot play 2 of their games.

[mvcfan]

He may have shown class by granting the waiver, but it seems he (or someone on WSU's behalf) pushed for the "he can't play against us" provision. If it was a non-conference situation where the schools play each other once, I could maybe understand that. But for a conference foe? It's unheard of.

Either grant the waiver and move on, or don't grant it.

What an idiot! The Valley is who granted the waiver. WSU doesn't decide what is good for entire league. Your athletic department should go to the MVC leadership on this one. Rarely what is best for WSU taken into consideration.

[Redbirdfan21]

From ISU's beat writer...

Jim Benson‏@Pg_Benson

The waiver for Illinois State's Teddy Hawkins was decided by the Conference’s Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Committee, per MVC. #isuhoops

[Aargh]

From ISU's beat writer...

Jim Benson‏@Pg_Benson

The waiver for Illinois State's Teddy Hawkins was decided by the Conference’s Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Committee, per MVC. #isuhoops

Right.

Here's how it goes. IlSU asks the conference for a waiver.

Conference asks WSU to submit a waiver.

WSU submits a waiver (or doesn't - they're not forced).

Conference office decides whether to allow the offered waiver.

There may be a lot of confusion over portions of the Valley rule, but the part that states a player can only avoid the 2-year penalty is if the initial school issues a waiver to the second school. The Valley office "decides" the waiver, but if they don't have one from WSU, they don't have anything to decide.

The Valley "decided" that WSU's offered waiver was acceptable to the league office.

There sure are a lot of Redbird fans looking for a reason to be butt hurt when they get a gift (and exactly what they were asking for) handed to them by the coach they claim has no class.